GAZ Four Wheel Drives

GAZ, Gorki'y Automobil Zavod

The history of GAZ began with the GAZ 61 (one of the first Russian
offroad vehicles), constructed in 1938.
In order to use it as a small military 4WD,
the GAZ 61 was modified (it's better say "totally
reconstructed" in a very short period (3 February - 25 March 1941) under
the leadership of Vitaliy Grachev and was named GAZ 64. It looked like
American Bantam with it's narrow track.
After major modernization
(wider track, new fenders, footboards, additional fuel tank
under driver's seat),
on 23rd September 1943 the GAZ 67 was produced.
In all 92,843 GAZ 67 were built to autumn of 1953.
In almost all hard offroad conditions the GAZ 67 was better than American
Willys,
Bantam and
Ford.
But it was less reliable and less economical (0.4 litre/km).
There were also problems with brakes and it was hard to repair.
After the WW2 some GAZ 67 spread around the world and
even to Australia (see below)!
The GAZ 67 was modified
many times and in 1947 the GAZ 69 model appeared. It was created by Grigory
Vasserman. The first serial GAZ 69 was made on 1st September 1953. At
the end of 1954 production of GAZ 69 was moved to Ulianovsk
(UAZ),
where it was produced from 1956 to December 1972
when it was replaced by the UAZ-469.
634,285 of the GAZ 69 were built over all versions.
- Dmitry Bernt

GAZ-69M

While living in Warsaw, Poland, and working in Central / Eastern Europe,
Jack Walter
became intrigued by the looks of the Russian GAZ 69
vehicles.

With the help of GAZ enthusiast, Andrzej Zielinski,
he purchased a 1961 GAZ69M, former Polish military vehicle (left)
in fair condition.

These are "before" pictures
as he intends to perform a frame-up restoration over the '97 winter.

My GAZ 69 after
successfully having passed a truly wet mudhole during
Sweden
Offroad Tour in 1999. The GAZ is modified with a
Volvo
B20 engine and auto trans as well as 33" tires. This year's
addition will be fender flares!
--Lars Larsson